😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $719 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,125 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $1,532 in Carthage.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 244% more expensive than in Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Carthage is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.33
$5.25TND 15.23
256.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.6
$22.41TND 65.0
210.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€12.00
$5.96TND 17.30
131.04%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$1.12TND 3.24
176.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$0.81TND 2.34
249.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.28TND 0.80
571.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$1.66TND 4.82
139.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.95
$2.00TND 5.81
126.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$0.52TND 1.52
144.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$0.27TND 0.78
700.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.68TND 4.87
4.76%
Eggs
$5.13€4.47
$1.76TND 5.09
191.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.59
$10.43TND 30.27
71.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.41
$6.13TND 17.77
57.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.56
$14.89TND 43.19
35.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.84
$1.36TND 3.94
138.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$3.82TND 11.09
-41.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.17TND 3.39
122.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$0.76TND 2.20
263.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.93
$0.93TND 2.70
137.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.85
$0.66TND 1.90
221.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$0.58TND 1.67
167.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.32TND 0.92
196.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.40
$3.88TND 11.24
89.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.01
$6.67TND 19.36
20.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.35
$1.36TND 3.94
13.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.26TND 3.64
121.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.71
$0.41TND 1.20
658.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.54
$13.94TND 40.44
85.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$0.32TND 0.92
921.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.36TND 1.03
311.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.88
$1.82TND 5.27
1782.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.51
$0.84TND 2.43
105.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$40.5KTND 117.5K
-10.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$36.0KTND 104.4K
-15.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$46.48TND 135
302.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.20
$9.20TND 26.69
64.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.85
$20.47TND 59.4
84.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.76
$33.61TND 97.5
66.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.89
$13.84TND 40.13
23.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.95
$5.17TND 14.98
120.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€869
$113TND 327
784.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$3,312TND 9,607
399.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.8
$51.2TND 148
81.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.93
$65.9TND 191
-37.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.9
$116TND 336
-4.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$67.9TND 197
84.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,488
$213TND 617
702.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,121
$159TND 460
710.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,236
$210TND 610
1119.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,693
$275TND 799
605.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,666
$989TND 2,868
673.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,504
$621TND 1,802
731.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,047
$277TND 805
746.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
10.28
-69.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Carthage: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $213 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 747% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $22.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $199 per month, with Carthage cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Carthage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Carthage?
Barcelona and Carthage differ by about 244% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $719 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Carthage?
Average pay runs 747% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $213 in Carthage. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Carthage?
Childcare runs $997 in Barcelona versus $113 in Carthage. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $719 in Carthage versus $2,476 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Carthage?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Carthage safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Carthage are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Carthage?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 244% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.